03/12/2011

Luigi Venosi, stalwart restaurateur, has upped sticks from Soho, to open a brand new self-titled Italian restaurant, Venosi, on Sloane Avenue in the heart of Chelsea.

Front-of-house extraordinaire, Luigi has worked in the restaurant industry for 40 years. Born on the Amalfi Coast, his second home became his central London trattoria, Don Luigi’s, where he played host to famous faces from Frank Sinatra and Mel Brookes to Dolph Lundgren, James Bolan and Franco Zola.After a well-deserved break, together with his son Gino as head chef, they have opened Venosi - an elegant Italian restaurant oozing with old school charm and hospitality.

His ethos remains the same – simple, quality cooking and ingredients combined with the kind of service that will make you return again and again. Having spent his formative years in his father’s restaurants, Gino cemented his training in Il Cavaliere in Florence and his Aunt’s eaterie in Naples. The result: a seasonal menu which takes a contemporary approach to traditional Italian flavours and combinations.With everything made in-house from the bread to sausages, special mentions go to salads such seared scallops, fennel and blood orange as well as radicchio, pear and watercress salad to start. Freshly made pasta courses feature a daily changing ravioli; linguine with lobster, tomato and chilli; and hazelnut tagliatelle with wild mushrooms and pancetta. Fabulous fish dishes include line caught sea bream with Jerusalem artichoke pureé and a basil dressing whilst must-try meat choices are hare stew with chestnut pureé and polenta; venison with red wine, dark chocolate and celeriac pureé; and the traditional veal Milanese with spaghetti Napoli.

The integrity of ingredients, many of which come direct from Italy, follow through to desserts which include home-made Parmesan ice cream; white chocolate, vanilla and rosemary pannacotta as well as Amalfi lemon mousse with basil sugar.

Exclusively Italian, the wine list is a treasure trove of regional treats. With over 40 bins under £40 it ranges from a Ca’ Montini, ‘L’Aristocartico’, Cabernet Sauvignon (£23.95) from Umbria all the way to the delights of a Biondi-Santi, Brunello di Mantalcino 2004 (£124.50) from Tuscany. Classic cocktails set to please the Chelsea set include a Negroni, which mixes Campari with gin, Martini rosso and soda and a Dry Martini served with an olive or a twist.

Venosi’s clean lines, exposed brickwork, open kitchen, clever mirrors and vintage photos result in an elegant environment that is as warm as the greeting you receive when you walk through the door.Proudly Italian, this father and son business combines a passion for food and hospitality with old -school service, proving some things never go out of fashion or fall out of favour. Restaurateurs in it for the long-haul, take note.

On 29th April this year the buffet will be making a comeback, and by Royal appointment. Rather than a formal sit down lunch, Wills and Kate will be sitting down to a sharing-style feast with their guests and it seems that, in top London restaurants, the buffet is back to stay.

Once satirized in the 1977 play Abigail’s Party, it has acquired a touch of class in 2011 and celebrity chef Aldo Zilli is at the forefront of its revival.

Aldo will be launching a buffet for lunchtimes in his top vegetarian restaurant, Zilli Green. With a menu changing on a daily basis and dictated by seasonality, the offering at Zilli Green cannot fail to delight.

Delicious, hot dishes available include: Vegetable Thai Green Curry, Vegetarian Lasagne, Baked Pasta with Aubergine and Mozzarella and Mexican Chill Bean. A stunning selection of salads will be served alongside the dishes and smaller plates include; Tomato and Mozzarella Panzerotti, Deep Fried Olives filled with Cheese, Vegetables in Cider Vinegar, Quesadillas, Hummus, Baba Ganoush and a warming soup of the day, perfect for this time of year.

The buffet is extremely reasonably priced with a small plate costing £5 and a large plate costing £9. For a mere £4 and £8 customers can take away their food in containers. Aldo Zilli says “ I am absolutely thrilled to be bringing back the buffet. What is good enough for William and Kate should be good enough for my customers” So join the campaign with Aldo, and we promise there won’t be a cheese and pineapple stick in sight…

I mainly get information about restaurants I already know about, but these two I have never heard of before. Details below - would be interested in feedback if you have been to either.

McQueen

McQueen is a new hotspot located in the heart of Shoreditch. Inspired by the ‘King of Cool’ Steve McQueen, this spacious venue combines an award-winning bar, a stylish restaurant and atmospheric lounge club.

The interior mixes exposed brick work with leather and furs and there is a touch of Hollywood glamour with vintage McQueen prints adorning the walls. The light and airy bar in the day is a great place to grab the ‘Bullitt lunch’ offer (from £8.00) or a quick cappuccino but it transforms into a livelier affair at night with an extensive selection of cocktails and premium spirits.

Restaurant at McQueen serves up a delicious selection of modern European dishes created by Head Chef Anupam Som (formerly from Saf), and there is also a substantial bar food menu to soak up the drinks on offer.

McQueen hosts an array of fabulous weekly nights so check out the website for up to date listings and don’t be surprised if you come across the odd trapeze act swinging from the ceiling on your visit.

We are just a few minutes from Old Street tube station. You can find us at 59-61 Tabernacle Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 4AA. Or give us a call to book your table on 020 7036 9229. Website: http://www.mcqueen-shoreditch.co.uk/

Banyan on Thames

Located in Battersea on the banks of the River Thames, Banyan on the Thames is a beautiful restaurant with stunning riverside views. Situated in London’s most exclusive eco-friendly hotel, Rafayel on the Left Bank, the restaurant is split into two levels so that diners can all enjoy the fabulous views up and down the river.

The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and its menu combines European and Asian flavours. Dishes are executed with a modern twist but without losing any of the flavour of their original origin.

Favourite dishes include the delicious Mongolian Warrior’s Lamb, Monkfish Tagine, a mouth watering Fillet Steak served with Shitake Mushrooms and a Potato and Rocket Puree and British classics such as Fish and Chips. And make sure you save a bit of space for afters, as dessert is not to be missed.

Highlights include Champagne Syllabub, Lemon and Blueberry Tartlette and a beautiful Chocolate Fondant. Banyan on Thames is a lovely place to celebrate occasion or simply make the most of one of London’s best riverside views.

London’s finest Indian restaurants, The Cinnamon Club and Cinnamon Kitchen, are celebrating the colourful Indian festival of Holi from the 14th to 19th March with vibrant tasting menus designed to delight the senses.

Celebrating the passing of winter, and the triumph of good over evil, Holi unites the whole family for mischievous merriment. Traditionally, coloured water or paint is playfully thrown by revellers at passers-by, although within the Grade II-listed home of The Cinnamon Club or the stylishly chic Cinnamon Kitchen, diners will be quite safe.

Executive chef Vivek Singh, alongside head chefs Hari Nagaraj (The Cinnamon Club) and Abdul Yaseen (Cinnamon Kitchen) have devised two menus that take diners on a sensational journey through the tastes, sights and smells of innovative, modern Indian cooking.

For just £40 per person at Cinnamon Kitchen and £50 at The Cinnamon Club, guests will begin with a zesty cocktail, before indulging in dishes that banish the bland and encapsulate the energy and spirit of Holi, one of the most fun-filled and exuberant celebrations in the Hindu calendar.

Embrace the arrival of spring and celebrate Holi at one of London’s finest Indian restaurants.More info at: